The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary – "Maximum Mumbai"
Source: The Hindu – June 2025 editorial on Mumbai city’s transport and urbanisation crisis.
Important for: SSC, Banking, and other competitive exam aspirants.
🌟 Word of the Day
Unctuous (adj.) – Meaning: Excessively flattering or insincere / தேவை இல்லாமல் புகழ்புரியும், ஒப்பட்டுக் கூறும்
Easy Way: Too smooth = not real
Example: His unctuous tone made everyone uncomfortable.
Similar: Insincere, Fawning
📚 Vocabulary List
1. Vestibule (noun)
Meaning: An enclosed entrance space / நுழைவுப் பகுதி
Easy Way: Like a mini room connecting coaches
Example: Proposed vestibules may help distribute train crowds.
Similar: Passage, Hallway
Meaning: An enclosed entrance space / நுழைவுப் பகுதி
Easy Way: Like a mini room connecting coaches
Example: Proposed vestibules may help distribute train crowds.
Similar: Passage, Hallway
2. Enforcer (noun)
Meaning: One who ensures rules are followed / கட்டுப்பாடுகளை கட்டாயம் செய்யும் நபர்
Easy Way: Enforce = force rule
Example: Japan uses enforcers to manage train crowds.
Similar: Officer, Regulator
Meaning: One who ensures rules are followed / கட்டுப்பாடுகளை கட்டாயம் செய்யும் நபர்
Easy Way: Enforce = force rule
Example: Japan uses enforcers to manage train crowds.
Similar: Officer, Regulator
3. Arteries (noun)
Meaning: Main routes or lines / முக்கிய பாதைகள்
Easy Way: Like blood arteries – main transport lines
Example: Mumbai's three railway lines are its arteries.
Similar: Routes, Highways
Meaning: Main routes or lines / முக்கிய பாதைகள்
Easy Way: Like blood arteries – main transport lines
Example: Mumbai's three railway lines are its arteries.
Similar: Routes, Highways
4. Decongest (verb)
Meaning: Reduce overcrowding / நெரிசலை குறைத்தல்
Easy Way: De + congest = remove congestion
Example: Metro services aim to decongest roads.
Similar: Clear, Unblock
Meaning: Reduce overcrowding / நெரிசலை குறைத்தல்
Easy Way: De + congest = remove congestion
Example: Metro services aim to decongest roads.
Similar: Clear, Unblock
5. Humane (adj.)
Meaning: Kind, compassionate / மனித நேயமான
Easy Way: Human-like treatment
Example: Overcrowded trains are not humane transport.
Similar: Compassionate, Kind
Meaning: Kind, compassionate / மனித நேயமான
Easy Way: Human-like treatment
Example: Overcrowded trains are not humane transport.
Similar: Compassionate, Kind
6. Price out (phrasal verb)
Meaning: Too expensive for someone to afford / விலை அதிகமாகும் போது எவரும் அதை வாங்க முடியாது
Easy Way: Price goes out of reach
Example: The metro system prices out the poor.
Similar: Exclude, Outprice
Meaning: Too expensive for someone to afford / விலை அதிகமாகும் போது எவரும் அதை வாங்க முடியாது
Easy Way: Price goes out of reach
Example: The metro system prices out the poor.
Similar: Exclude, Outprice
7. Urbanisation (noun)
Meaning: Growth of cities / நகர வளர்ச்சி
Easy Way: Urban = city
Example: Mumbai’s extreme urbanisation affects safety.
Similar: Development, Industrialisation
Meaning: Growth of cities / நகர வளர்ச்சி
Easy Way: Urban = city
Example: Mumbai’s extreme urbanisation affects safety.
Similar: Development, Industrialisation
8. Thrust (noun)
Meaning: Push or drive with force / வலிமையாக தள்ளுதல்
Easy Way: Thrust = throw with force
Example: The thrust of passengers causes dangerous movement during boarding.
Similar: Push, Force
Meaning: Push or drive with force / வலிமையாக தள்ளுதல்
Easy Way: Thrust = throw with force
Example: The thrust of passengers causes dangerous movement during boarding.
Similar: Push, Force
9. Stampedes (noun)
Meaning: Sudden rush of a crowd causing panic / கூட்ட நெரிசல், அச்சத்தால் திடீர் ஓட்டம்
Easy Way: Crowd panic = stampede
Example: Stampedes at stations are caused by overcrowding.
Similar: Rush, Panic
Meaning: Sudden rush of a crowd causing panic / கூட்ட நெரிசல், அச்சத்தால் திடீர் ஓட்டம்
Easy Way: Crowd panic = stampede
Example: Stampedes at stations are caused by overcrowding.
Similar: Rush, Panic
10. Commuter (noun)
Meaning: A person who travels regularly between home and work / தினசரி பயணி
Easy Way: Regular traveller
Example: Mumbai commuters face stress due to delays.
Similar: Passenger, Traveller
Meaning: A person who travels regularly between home and work / தினசரி பயணி
Easy Way: Regular traveller
Example: Mumbai commuters face stress due to delays.
Similar: Passenger, Traveller
💡 Idioms and Phrases
Mowed down
Meaning: Hit and killed (by a vehicle) / வாகனம் மோதி கொல்லப்படுதல்
Example: Many are mowed down while crossing train tracks.
Meaning: Hit and killed (by a vehicle) / வாகனம் மோதி கொல்லப்படுதல்
Example: Many are mowed down while crossing train tracks.
📝 Summary
The editorial stresses Mumbai’s chronic train overcrowding and unsafe footboard travel, made worse by lack of affordable alternatives. While introducing sliding doors and vestibules may help, the root problem lies in urban design and poor transport diversity. Leaders must create cheaper, accessible, and safe travel modes — including ferry and bus routes — to reduce fatalities and ensure humane travel in a city that has long outgrown its infrastructure.
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